Prone body hoist



July 22, 1952 G. J. HAWKINS 2,603,851

PRONE BODY HOIST Filed May l, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l @anulllllllll L Afro/amaai.

July 22, 1952 G. J. li-lAwKlNs PRoNE BODY HoIsT 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May l, 1950 1 VENToR. W57

MDM-rm Patented .uy 22, 1.952

applicati@Mayxigisso; summa- 159,271

:finvention irelates to improven1ents,gl-'fin pronebodyhoists. f

Afgeneral object offthefinvention isftopr'o'videawhoistfor mortuary yor hospital usagegagiaptable for the; vertical shiftingyof prone and.iner.t'fhu man bodies.V

In mortuary establishments and in hf!S'iita'ls.

itj isireqpently `necessary to 'vertically .sh'iit'jian inertpronehuman .bodyj and it] 'is highly desirable when a mechanical hoistingjdevie is'used' for .this purpose that it be susceptible ofbeig soferigaged with the Ybody as to not disturb the position 'of the body orto benidor iieg'gthefbody; With a body hoistV formo'rtuary use."forfi'n's'tanoa` it 'is necessary. to' move an 'embalmedcorpse' from 'the embal'ming'table' to' the casketV v-and in shiftf in the prone inert body. it must beengag'edby tlf1 e' h o'i s,ting lmechanism-'in "such a n ianx'ler that the 'head'of the corp'sewill not.` be `distufrl';tid-arid thermorermly engages# the bodyhead, withthe engaging members being operable jointlyand si; multaneous to vertically shift the body without d llllbngts inclinati@ 01T- D IQnpofand which maintains the-body head in {azdesiredfadiui'fed-fpsti911- f '-A1f'rhfaf'0biwt 0f the; inveniionfie to lprovide alrelbdyfhist i111 whi9h-ir11el19isiins mech# eleetricallv operated` whereby gggat- .tendant can easily lift` and move .a prone.. inert human-hwyy I '"A 'iurther-fobjet 'of the" Virivei'itioril iste 'provide 'aghoistoi thej character describe'vcl@ whichgiwhile useiulforhandling and lifting an vvun'coniin'ed''iin-- :crt human body,l mayv .also be usedfor vertically moving' casketsfvaults, stretchersand otherj'en- 'closures in or on which aprone human'b'ody'tnay bdisposed.

^" *furtherfobjectjofther invention is to provide abran-juas. (erger-f2s) pnrposesf'-described.` YWith the above and-ochenobjects1in view/the invention.. -consistsofgthe improved V.prone bocly hoist, and its parts and combinations as setfforth vIn thet accompanying, drawingsin which the samepreference characters .indicate the'jsame parts-finfall orme-views:

ing apparatus is embodied-in lgan. lopen` portable.

adjustable framework-.which-fincludesapairfoi Vend standards-I 0 off-'inverted Ul-form-andfhelddn longitudinally spaced apart relation byfhorizontal frame members -to be;` described. Theflower extremities? A.off vthe arms of the-endz standards IIl have. .swivelling 1y. mounted` thereon casters l lI vI Alliot-fthe .members constituting [the open'iframe work. inclnding..the-end standards `andfthe-conv necting horizontal members -are' 'formed :of til-4 bnlar steel. The c1osed, .reducedupperlendporf tions ofthe pair of separated end vsina-ndam's .are connectedA by laterally spaced.: apart. topfjlongi {tudinal frame members I2 which arelfof. teler scemo-formation so as` to ybe longitudinally .ad--

v instable and!` which `.are providecl-.lwfiizil register;- ing'. apertures throughv which pinsf maybewin- .s'erted for securing, the telescopic f members in theirV .eiitendedf positions.

AThe. opposite eidrernitiesV of Itheft'opmembers 'I'2.` are reduced. and fare revol'ubly er'tnded through 'bearing openings therefor in lth'e't'ip Selfoss".v portions ff' the end:v standards IIJ,k 'The reduoedfportio'v'rlsat one end, arefurtherfexjtended and are formed :with "integral pinions I3. Thes'epinions are adapted to' meshiwith worms I4 fast on a transverse drivenend shaft I ijoiirwebfadaptedfffath It will thus be seen that the top longitudinal members I2 are adapted to be revolved. Along the lengths of the latter are series of apertures 20, 2I and 22 for the selective anchorage of pairs of spaced apart spools 23, 24 and 25. The par- 5 allel,Y laterally spaced apart top longitudinal members I2, therefore,y carry the pairsl of spools with the spools'f ofi each Apa-ir; laterallygspaced' apart. The spols 23 have attached thereto'the opposite upper ends of straps 26 whose lower ends 10 carry a U-shaped leg harness 21. The upper1 ends of straps 28 are secured to the intermediate spools 24 and the lower ends of said straps 28 carry a U-shaped hip harness:'.29;-j The` upper j ends of straps 30 are secured'to the spools 25 r15 and the lower ends of said straps carry a U` shaped shoulder harness 3l. Itwill beobserved that the harnesses 2'I, 29 and 3| are normally preferably at elevations progressively graduated toward the head end oifthe apparatus with the 20 result-that the engagea body isflsuppbrte prone position slightly downward ward-*th -fe'c'tfnd,-lasgshwrrfin rfig the-preferable position fndispsinga if inf acaskt'; I`.`, ;.1 .;-tw .115: i It shouldalsolbefobserved Jthat't-lief1p1`ni`c') s and gears l t0 d'llv th 'longitudinali KleintiereV Y I 2 On'WhiChthe-spOIs 23,I f24 'and 2 5iaref'inounted; are arranged to revolve said members |2711) 15131310?" site directions -for Athe purpose i off windirg`- or unwinding' thev` 'strapsf26f- 28 'fand-130i relativefto their respectivef'sfp'ol'sL` TheV p'iif' and" aperture means fon-the 'anchoragfof the speo'ls on L'the longitudinal members -I 2 'permits the Vadj u's'tme'n-t of the spools on said members so as'`l Y operl'y locatev the harnesses v2`I';f'2 9` and3I Vrelative tothe portionsoftlepcdytd bes pp'orted. f f e It willi b' bserved'frbnr 2"'v that one of'. the verticalarmsjofithe enjd lstandard I Il 'ati' the; head` end of the apparatus'jrevolubly i'houses a` vertical screw' 32 whose lower end is journalled 1hab-lock 33 inthe lower endf'o'f"sad-fstandardiarrni The upper unthreaded portionf'of the screw-32 exteria-ptwaidlyfof;rhelpper end of the stand-k ard'jarm and'c'arries fastv thereon a` wormgear 34 V'I r'i'eshing with'a worm 3 5 onjthe end'of the drivenftransversef'shaft I5. Through'this'means, there'foreiA the inertical s rew l 3 2- :isf driven` from -t'lie elekztricInotc'irA I5.; I"A' side vwall portion of 'thetubiilar armoit 'ej standard vI0 `which houses 'thescrewj32' is' formed onits inner lsideiwith a o 'slotted cpe1gf 36 through .which the bracket pcruo'r'fb a1trave11iiig'- mit 3,1'- iaterauy extends, the V'traveling nut. 'being screw threaded en- `cnd portion of lan"Y arm 3 I "associated "the travelling nut .is .fQrmed 'with a' bore'djboss 38 whieh "'adfj ustably receives'. the shank portion f vl3 9 of' an adjustable head Qup "49.' 'The latter is mounted on "a horizontal sleeve 4I adjustably carried on the stem 39. The head cup is adapted to be adjustably positioned so as to engage and support the rear of the head of aprone human 'body 60, as shown in Fig. 1, andit permits rthe head to be turned in any desiredposition and .65 to maintain the head in this position relative to the remainder of the engaged and supported body.

When the electric motor I9 is energized to cause its operation, through the shafts and gear.- .70 ing described, the transverse shaft 4I5 .will be turned to revolve the upperl longitudinal members I2 and thus turn the spools thereon to wind or unwind the straps 26, 28 and 3l).v Simultaneously. the vertical screw, 32vw1l1 be driventosm maybe -ro by the meansdescribed, with said' mean grate@ is ai reverse direction@ @aus ingloffthe elements' which' carry the limav Wagening bedr .may be.19w1y1@derart/ige:

longitudinal' members I2, which are driven, has' the end standards I0 spacedly connected by telescopic longitudinal frame members 42 disposed #below and outwardly of the members I2, and by bottom telescopic longitudinal members 43. While 'the members 42 are formed integral with 'the end standards I0, the bottom longitudinal connecting members 43 have their outer ends reduced and hook-shaped, as at 43', to engage in recesses 44 provided therefor in supporting rings 45 (see Fig. 5) which are clamped to lower pqrtionsof the vertical arms of the end standards v I 0. A1s',the fsup'portingrings! 5 'areiadaptd to. be engaged by the hooked extremities -46 'oi transverse bottom barsdi: f The longitudinal btiie. filiefragaewofklomplili 'open'o'ihai ii lled'oyerat wheemdnrecy over.. the -body on the? embalm:

inestable.; At this l1:1rr1zezt-he neau-,Quplflionrihe supporting.. member V39 has -beemswivelledztdan outoflthaway positicfm.` The various. yharness membersZlf, 29 and 3|,.'initially detached.; from their: respective .'strap's;v .are .'engaged underevthe leg.,"'hip 'and shoulder; portions'1 'of "tlffefbodyf and the head cup 4U is lowered 'andswung'un-der the-'head' 'of thev human body; i Th"strapsi126,28 and 311-having-beenv lowered, are then engaged with-fitheir Y*respective harnesses and 'if' adjus'ti me'ntsf'arelde'sired the'spools 23, v24v and 25may. as-V previously noted, be shifted allang-@their shafts L. 1. j J

Aften theprne Ybody? h asA been` thus: properly 'engaged the motor I9 may be started'and it"will be effective to simultaneously wind the'f ius straps en heir spoolsand toelevatethetr vel- '11.1.1 ;whihgearriesiheheadjbup dof The mms. Portions ,0,f. the 'prone' bedr `-are" rgd ing Ioperated tov elevate the human body slow .even-1y in. a, position of siughtgiriciijauon and wthot," disturbing or in' any.way flexing 'the .body When' the. body has' beenfthus 'elevated above he embalming table. the fentire 'wheeled .framewrkl carrying the body,v may.

Y* bev/heeled over the casket whereupon therno'toL i I9 is: op- "lowern am-cr bed, when desired,

posited into the casket in a desired position without disturbing it.

While the operation of the prone body hoist has been described in detail in connection with a mortuary establishment, it is obvious that it may be used to advantage in a hospital for the purpose of removing a human body from a hospital bed or operating table and transporting it to another location. Additionally, the hoist is susceptible of use in connection with devices or containers in or on which the humanbody is disposed as a stretcher, casket, vault or thel like. For the latter purposes the several harness members 21, 28 and 3l may beslung around the container to be moved and then engaged with their respective straps and upon operation of the motor the stretcher, casket or the like can be elevated or lowered and, while being carried, the entire assemblage may be wheeled to any desired location. In the use of the improved hoist it is obvious that the same requires the attention of but a single operator.

In the drawings, the open framework is shown in its extended, operative condition. If it is desired to collapse the framework for storage or handling, it is merely necessary to remove the pins which join the complementary sections of the longitudinal frame members I2, 42 and 43. Then, through the telescoping of these frame members, one of the end standards may be pushed toward its companion end standard to thus temporarily shorten the assemblage for more convenient storage, it being understood that the anchorages for the spools on the upper frame members are also removed to permit the spools to slide.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the vimproved prone body hoist is of simple and novel construction, is easy to operate, provides for the moving of a prone human body without disturbing the latter, and is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A hoist for a prone human body, comprising a portable, open framework, an elevator, means vertically movably mounting said elevator in one end portion of said framework, a head support angularly adjustably carried by said elevator,

laterally spaced shafts revolubly mounted longitudinally of the upper portion of said framework, a plurality of body supporting harness members spacedly depended fro-m portions of said shafts and adapted to be wound and unwound relative thereto, motion transmitting means operatively connected with said shafts and with said elevator,v and power means engaging said motion transmitting means for simultaneously moving said elevator and revolving said shafts in synchrony.

2. A hoist for a prone human body, comprising a portable, open framework, an elevator, means vertically movably mounting said elevator in one end portion of said framework, a head support angularly adjustably carried by said elevator, laterally spaced shafts revolubly mounted longitudinally of the upper portion of said framework, a plurality of body supporting harness members spacedly depended from portions of said shafts and adapted to be wound and unwound relative thereto, a power shaft in driving engagement with the first-mentioned shafts and said elevator, and electric motor means for driving said power shaft.

3. A'prone body hoist, comprising an open framework including top longitudinal revoluble shafts and vertical corner posts, pairs of spaced spools carried by said shafts to turn therewith, body engaging harness members depended from said spools to be wound and unwound relative thereto, a head support vertically movably mounted vonone of said corner posts, and means extending to both said head support and said revoluble shafts for'operating the head support and spools simultaneously and in synchrony.

Y 4. A mechanical hoist for a prone human body,

comprising vertical end standards, telescopic top longitudinal frame members spacedlyy connecting said end standards, a pair of said longitudinal vframe members being journalled in said end standards for rotation, bottom longitudinal frame members detachably associated with said end standards, said end standards and all of said longitudinal frame mem-bers constituting an open framework, pairs of spaced spools adjustably mounted on saidrrotatable longitudinal frame members to turn therewith, body engaging flexible slings depended from said spools to be wound and unwound relative thereto, an elevator, means vertically movably mounting said elevator in one of said end standards, a head support angularly adjustably carried by said elevator, motion transmitting means operatively connected with said rotatable longitudinal frame members andwlth said elevator; and means engaging said motion transmitting means for operating the elevator and said rotatable longitudinal frame members simultaneously.

5. A mechanical hoist for a yprone human body, comprising vertical end standards, telescopic topr longitudinal framel members spacedly connecting said end standards, a pair of said longitudinal frame members being journalled in said end standards for rotation, bottom longitudinal frame mem-bers detachably associated with said end standards, said end standards and all of said longitudinal frame members constituting an open framework, pairs of spaced spools adjustably mounted on spaced-apart portions of said rotatable longitudinal frame members to turn therewith and movable with said longitudinal frame members when the latter are telescopically adjusted, body engaging flexible slings depended from said spools to be wound and unwound relative thereto, and power means for revolving said rotatable longitudinal frame members in either direction.

' GUY J. HAWKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 121,688 Thompson et al. Dec. 5, 1871 680,814' Smith Aug. 20, 1901 1,273,599 Floyd July 23, 1918 1,273,600 Floyd July 23, 1918 1,450,092 Leavitt Mar. 27, 1923 1,487,150 Deakins Mar. 18, 1924 2,125,546 Corr Aug. 2, 1938 

